Heather Durham-Birley

Experience

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  MKTG

  Jan 2017 - Jan 2019

  Production Assistant

  Gatorade 5v5 Activation:2017 London, England2018 Barcelona, Spain2019 Madrid, Spain•Assisted the production team with on-site activation logistics.•Responsible for two international teams’ time management•Supported event efficiency with day-to-day tasks, and loan in/out procedures.

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  Château Sigalas Rabaud

  Jul 2018 - Sept 2018

  Wine Tourism Intern

  I was a summer intern for the château, leading wine tours and tastings for English speaking visitors. Other duties included checking emails for bookings, stocking the wine room, selling wine, and helping prepare food for experiences.

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  Rove Winery at the Gallagher Estate

  Jun 2019 - Jun 2022

  •Managing team leaders (marketing manager, wine club manager, tasting room manager)•Curating team training programs and wine education•Creative business strategy for growth and improved company organization and efficiency •Developing guest experiences and events•Oversaw the hiring process•Help promote company culture •Social media management (content creation for newsletters, social media platforms, and overseeing marketing team)•Employee management (scheduling, training, employee onboarding )•Administration responsibilities (product orders, communications, inventory management, reporting responsibilities)•Event coordinator and onsite producer •Created brand loyalty through storytelling and customer service•Wine club and inventory management•Team leadership with business opening/closing duties

  • Operations Manager & Director of Wine Education

    Jul 2021 - Jun 2022

  • Tasting Room Manager

    Aug 2019 - Jul 2021

  • Assistant Manager

    Jun 2019 - Aug 2019
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  Lifetime Vintage

  Sept 2021 - Jan 2023

  Sommelier

  •Leading virtual wine-tasting experiences for lifetime vintage clients. Provided recommendations for wine selections and curated cases through their vast inventory.

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  Vintage Wine Company

  Apr 2022 - Apr 2023

  Wine Sales Representative

  •I drove wine sales of our large portfolio of brands, provided exceptional customer service for both on and off-premise accounts, and consistently met or exceeded sales targets•Brand awareness, organizational skills, and consistent communication allowed me to deliver customized wine purchasing strategies, to fit both clients and their consumers’ needs, while building lasting industry relationships.

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  Manifold

  Mar 2023 - Mar 2023

  Production Assistant

  Activation: Bordeaux Wine Council•Assisted the production team with on-site activation across three key wine markets in the United States (Houston, Washington DC, New York City) •Provided overall event support, including registration, load in/out, and data collection.

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  Infinity Marketing Team, LLC

  Mar 2023 - Jul 2023

  Event Contractor

  Activation: State Farm Good Neighbor Crew •Researching, Sourcing, Booking, & Contracting Events •Managing communications and timelines between events production teams and legal teams

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  Burgundy School of Business

  Sept 2023 - Jun 2024

  Wine & Spirits Business MBA Candidate

  Provided comprehensive export plans, growth strategies, and market analysis for various wine producers, covering socio-cultural data, economic and political environments, consumption habits, brand competition, and global import/export data. Delivered strategic recommendations tailored to each client's unique needs.Francis Wines (South Africa): Developed a strategy report for exporting wines to the UK for the founder and CEO. Conducted thorough market analysis and provided actionable strategic recommendations.Wines of Chile USA: Presented a growth strategy and competitor analysis to increase awareness of Chilean wines in the US for the executive director of Wines of Chile USA. Included an analysis of territorial brand competition and strategic recommendations.Titakis Wines (Crete, Greece): Created an export and growth strategy targeting the USA, Germany, Switzerland, and Poland. Conducted socio-cultural and economic analysis, and provided strategic recommendations supported by global import/export data.Abridge - FIVS (International Competition): Developed an export plan for entering the Canadian wine market for a family-owned company. Presented a business development strategy including product innovation, market analysis, brand strategy, go-to-market plan, legal considerations, and a 5-year financial growth forecast. Presented to a jury including industry leaders such as the Managing Director of Champagne Mailly Grand Cru and the Director of Sales at Maison Albert Bichot. Show less

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  Winesellers, Ltd.

  Jul 2024 - now

  Brand Manager

  As Brand Manager at Wine Sellers LTD, a family-owned importer recognized as Importer of the Year by both Wine & Spirits and Wine Enthusiast, I support strategic brand development and marketing initiatives.Key Responsibilities:- Collaborate with the VP of Portfolio & Education to develop and execute strategic plans and brand decks.- Monitor and report on sales and depletions of assigned brands, and prepare quarterly business reviews.- Track category trends to identify growth opportunities for brands.- Ensure timely delivery of marketing assets to the sales team and manage inventory levels.- Develop and implement annual brand plans, including seasonal thematic programs and national initiatives.- Generate innovative ideas for POS and sales tools, while managing budgets and tracking spending.- Organize and manage special events, supplier visits, tastings, and blitzes.- Conduct competitive landscape reviews, including pricing analysis across categories. Show less